Orthopedic brace and arch support



Jan. 27. 1 25- 1.524.256 W. JONES ORTHOPEDIC BRACE AND ARCH SUPPORT Filed Aprfl 14, 1924 2 Sheets-Shoot 1 W. JONES ORTHOPEDIC BRACB AND ARCH SUPPORT Filed April 14,. 1924 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 [Zoe/lib)".-

Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM JONES, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

OBTHOPEDIC IBRACE AND ARCH SUPPORT.

Application filed April 14, 1924. Serial No. 706,460.

T0411 whom it may concern:

it known that I, WILLIAM JONES, a, citiof the United States of America, re-

at the city and county of Denver and 6 Sta of Colorado, have invented new and l Orthopedic Braces and Arch Supports, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to a new orthopedic brace and arch support for weak and brokena I'ChBS.

And the objects of my invention are First: To provide an arch-supporting brace that is arranged and adapted to fit the 1 ltfifitudinal arch only and that will gradu y straighten the longitudinal arch portions and t e heel portions of the feet that have own out of alignment into their nature and normal alignment positions relative to each other, by the application of adjustable pressures on the outside of the heel' against the inside longitudinal arch rtion of each foot; and also to provide a that will extend from the longitudinal arches to the transverse arches and that will alsoat the same time provide an adjustable brace for both the longitudinal and the transverse arches of the feet.

Second: To provide a simple, inexpensive and ad'ustable pressure-exertin orthopedic brace that will rectify the disa ignment of any bones in the feet that have worked out of their original normal position, and that will strengthen and cure weak and broken 5; arches by the application of transverse obliquely applied, gradually increasing pres- .from the outside of the heels to the insi e longitudinal arches of the feet, and also to the transverse arches of the feet.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illuli rated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of the improved arch Supporter as it appears when secured upon the foot, the same being adapted for an rting the longitudinal arch.

igure 2 is a. view similar to Figure 1, but showing a supporter adapted both for the lon 'tudinal and transverse arches.

igure 2* is a perspective view of the supshown in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of Figure 1.

F gure 4 is a bottom view of Figure 2. 1

Figure 5 is a side view looking at the'opposite side of the supporter shown in Figure 0 Figure 6 is a side view looking at theopposite side of the supporter shown'in Figure Figure 7 is a side View of a longitudinal so arch supporter applied to a foot, and of a slightly different construction from the supporter shown in 1, 3 and 5.

Figure 8 is a bottom view of Figure 7, and

Flgure 9 is a view looking at the opposite 05 side of the supporter to that shown in Fi ure 7.

imilar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings The numeral 1 designates a human foot; and the numeral 2 designates an arch-supporting brace embodying my invention.

My arch-supporting brace fits around the heel 3 of the foot 1, and it is made in numerous sizes and shapes.

lly combined heel and arch brace shown in igure 1 is for application to feet that require a brace that fits the heel 3 and the longitudinal arch 4 of the foot, and the combined heel and arch brace shown in Figure 2 is longer than the brace shown in Figure 1 and is adapted to fit the longitudinal arch 4 and the transverse arch 5 of the foot.

My combined heel-fitting and arch-supporting brace is made of any suitable thln and strong and integrally resilient metal that Will retain the shapes it is formed into to fit the feet accuratel My heel-fitting arch-supporting brace is especially designed to relieve the pain of weak and also of broken-down arches; and will in time cause them to reassume their original arch form free from pain and permanently cured.

My invention effects the cure of weak and broken-down arches by removing the cause of them, which is, that the bone in the heel of the foot gradually moves to one side of its original straight alignment with the longitudinal arch bones of the foot, and consequently ifthe heel of the foot can be moved or be caused to move back into its natural alignment position the pain will cease and the will regain its strength and its natural curved shape; and my heel and arch-suprting brace is made and constructed in the allowing manner to effect these results A thin ate of any resiliently springing metal, pre erably German silver, is made in the shape of Figures 2 and 6, the heel end 5 of which ma vary from about an inch to an inch and t rec-quarters wide at the point 6, and from this point may taper smaller to its end to from about three-quarters of an inch to about an inch at 7 and then taper 16 smaller to a rounded end at 8; and this heel end is adapted to rest squarely upon the corresponding part of the shoe.

In Figure 5 this end 8 is provided with a slot 9 that is made wide enough to receive 2 a strap 10, which may be non-elastic or elastic as desired, and its upper side edge is provided with two depending pointed teeth 11, which may be formed integral w1th the metal of the heel band 5 at its end 8 or these teeth may be formed on another piece of metal 12 and the piece of metal 12 be secured to the upper edge of the end 8 of the heel band by rivets or solder or other means.

A strap 10 is secured at its outer end to the central portion 14 of the width of the lon 'tudinal arch portion 15 of the brace, an this strap 10 is made long enough to grasped by the hand and be guided side- W188 into the slot 9 and be pulled up against the teeth hard enou h to force them to penetrate the strap am? thus lock the strap to the curved heel member of the brace, the effect sought being to pull on the strap and thus draw the free end of the heel member and the upwardly curved flange portion 16 of the longitudinal arch-fitting portion 15 together against the outside of the heel and the inside of the almost vertical portion of the top ofv the longitudinal arch along the length of the top portion of the curve of the brace together tig tly enough to draw them and their bones into alignment, and to hold them in alignment and then look the strap to the teeth of the slot 9 of the free end of the heel band 5.

The brace shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5 is made of a resilient metal plate and is covered with leather inside and out, but the brace shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6 is without any covering; and all of the different sizes and shapes of-braces can be used without coverings or they can be covered with any suitable coverin material.

The short race shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5 is made to extend to cover the longitudinal arch portion of the feet only; but the brace shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6 is made to ex tend to Ind cover the transverse arch of the feet, as well as the longitudinal arch of the feet; and the free end 8 of its heel band 5 to it within its ed e, preferably, so that it will not hurt the set; and the free end of its strap 10 fits easily in the buckle and is provided with a buckle pin 19, receiving holes 20 placed uite close together to enable the strap to be rawn to varying degrees of pulling strains and fastened where desired.

The transverse arch-fitting end of my brace is provided with a raised, round, upwardly curved surface 21 that slopes up from the extreme end of the opposite sides of the extreme end portion of the brace; which upwardly rounded, concaved portion is formed by pressing a convex recess into the under side of the plate, and the upper surface of this concaved portion of this transverse arch-fitting portion of my brace fits up into the center of the transverse arch, and its edges bear all around against the inside ofthe shoe.

From the inner side at a point 22 from the extreme end of the brace the longitudinal part of my brace commences to curve upwardly to a point 23 from which it curves downwardly to the point- 24 which is the point where the heel band commences to curve into the heel surrounding member of my brace, while the inside upwardly curved side of my brace curves u gradually from the inner edge 25 of the race to a nearly vertically positioned edge 26 that extends along the length of the inside of the foot, and from the point 26 it curves sharply downward into the transverse arch portion at 21' to points 28, from which points 28 the outer edges of the transverse arch part of the brace rest on the shoe.

In Figures 7, 8, and 9, I have shown a supporter for longitudinal arches, which is of a slightly different construction from the supporter shown in Figures 1, 3, and

This supporter comprises a resilient sheet metal brace 29, which is adapted to bear against and conform to the inner side of the foot and extend under the longitudinal arch. This brace merges into a narrow semi-circular portion 30, which extends around the heel, and terminates in a straight forwardly extending portion 31 which lies alongside the heel, and is provided at its end with a short upwardly projecting tongue 32. The heel portion 30, is adapted to rest upon the corresponding portion of the shoe, and against the counter, or that part of the shoe which surrounds the heel, and therefore, does not engage the heel in such a manner as to rub or irritate the same.

While this brace may be used without a covering, I preferably encase that portion of it which bears against the side and under portion of the foot, in a pocket piece 33, comprising a leather strip of the size and shape of this part of the brace, which is stitched aroundits upper, forward, and under edges, to aleather strap 34, which is long enough to extend under the foot and up against the opposite side of the foot to a height substantiall equal to the part 29 of the brace.

Tli e strap 34 is of sufiicient width, where it extends under the arch, to insure comfort to the wearer, and the free end portion 35 which lies against the outside of the foot is of a progressively diminishing width, as shown in Figure 9. A pocket piece 36 is stitched along its bottom, forward, and top edges to the part 35 of the strap, and this pocket piece is provided with a number of e elets 37 ,a pocket being provided between t e iece 36, and the end 35 of the strap to wiiich it is secured, said pocket bein open at its rear end. The pocket formed by the piece 33 and strap 34 is also open at its rear end; and the arch-supporting part 29 of the brace is inserted in this pocket, while the end 31 of the heel portion 30 is adapted to be inserted in the pocket formed by the piece 36 and the end 35 of the strap 34. The end rtion 31 of the brace is inserted in this atter pocket, and the tongue 32 on this end portion is passed through one of the eyelets 7, thus holding the brace in arch-supporting position.

While I have thus described the general outline and also illustrated the two principal kinds of braces-one for the longitudinal arch and the transverse arches-it must be borne in mind that every brace must be curved in all of its parts and throughout its length and width to fit exactly the foot that is to wear it.

The operation is as follows Having fitted a brace to a foot, the operator or the wearer takes the strap in one hand and puts it in the toothed slot or in the buckle, whichever securing device has been placed on the free end of the heel band, and pulls or draws the free end of of the heel band and the longitudinal arch member of the brace together to clamp them against the opposite sides of the foot, which action exerts a pressure on the outside of the heel that tends to move it inwardly, and at the same time exerts a pressure on the longitudinal arch portion of the brace through the bearing of the vertically inclined upper edge portion of this arch member on the inside rounded or curved portion of the inside of the foot, which tends to move it outwardly and thus between these two opposite direction pressures brings the bone of the heel and bones of the lingitudinal arch into their natural position of alignment with each other.

The pressure should be applied gradually where the brace is applied to feet that are painfull sore, and the braces should be worn al of the time, and should be tightened and the side pressure gradually increased from time to time until the pain disappears and a complete cure has been effected of the weakor fallen arch.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An orthopedic brace and support compositions as will clamp the free end of the heel band and the vertically inclined part of the arch-supporting part of the brace against the opposite sides of the foot.

2. In an arch and heel rectifying and supporting brace for weak and brokendown arches the combination of a resilient plate consisting of a plate portion adapted to fit the bottom of the feet and having an integral portion extending from the curved longitudinal part of the plate that fits the longitudinal arch of the foot extending around and fitting around the heel of the foot and having a. free end provided with a strap-securing device; a strap secured to the central portion of the arch and adapted to be drawn throu h said strap-securin device and ti htene to draw the outsi e of the heel an the inside of the round arch of the plate to clam the. heel of the foot and the arch of the oot to move them in opposite directions from and also toward each other to rectify their disalignment to each other.

3. In a brace and arch support of the character described, a resilient metal plate, comprising a portion shaped to fit under the longitudinal arch, and against the inner side of the foot, and a portion which extends therefrom around the heel and terminates; fastening means on the terminal end of the heel portion, and a strap -extending from the arch supporting portion and passing beneath the foot, its free end being secured by said fastening means.

4. In an arch support of the character described, a resilient metal plate comprising a portion shaped to fit under the longitudinal and transverse arches, and against the inner side of the foot, and a portion extending therefrom around the heel and terminating; fastening means on the terminal end of the heel portion, a strap extendbeneath the foot and connecting the ai dfi supporting portion and the said securing means, sald supporter tending to press the hegll1 bone inward and raise the longitudinal ar 5. The combination of an arch and freeended heel-fitting plate with a strap secured force the strap up against the teeth in said to the arch portion of the plate; a slot in slot. the free end of the heel portion; and teeth In testimony whereof I aflix my signature depending from the upper side of said slot in the presence of two Witnesses.

5 and arranged to penetrate said strap and hold it when the strzg is pulled through WILLIAM JONES. said slot and tighten to clamp the heel Witnesses: and the arch portions of the plate against G. SARGENT Emorr,

the opposite sides of the foot, and then Emznmrn SMITH. 

